ANC and EFF go head to head with clash of the rallies

The African National Congress’s (ANC) campaign has culminated in a final rally at Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, dubbed the Siyanqoba rally, at the same time as the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) hold their final Tshela Thupa rally at Soweto’s Orlando Stadium on Sunday.

Both events appear to be attracting hoards of supporters.

ANC head of elections Fikile Mbalula said he believes the ANC’s rally will be fill to capacity by 10am on Sunday.

One user shared a tweet comparing the turn out at the two rallies, which seemed to suggested that the ruling party’s turn-out was less substantial than their red-beret wearing rivals. It is, however, unclear at which times the two pictures were taken, while it’s also possible that the angle the pictures were taken from affects how packed the events appear.

READ MORE: DA supporters flock to Soweto for ‘Phetogo’ election rally

EFF supporters on social media appear to have embraced a spirit of rivalry, with tweets mocking the ruling party including one asking when they are giving out KFC at their rally – “I want to come eat before I go to the [EFF] rally in Orlando” – and another from a woman claiming to have used the ANC’s transport as a way of getting closer to the EFF rally.

One user suggested that while the EFF looks set to “win the Twitter and social media support and popularity”, the ANC is still likely to win “the majority vote” in this year’s elections.

The official opposition party, the Democratic Alliance (DA), meanwhile held their final rally on Saturday, reportedly filling the 24,000 seater Dobsonville Stadium.

#EFFTshelaThupaRally vs ANC@EFFSouthAfrica pic.twitter.com/KaYwbyp7o5

— Dlaks (@CebisaMrs) May 5, 2019

Hi @MYANC what time are you giving out KFC tomorrow at your rally? I want to come eat before I go to #EFFTshelaThupaRally in Orlando

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— malome Mpho (@Mphooowza) May 4, 2019

Fighters I'm Outside Ellis Park Stadium, I Used ANC Bus, Where is Orlando Stadium from here?#EFFTshelaThupaRally

— Guguletu Jiphethu (@GugsOnline) May 5, 2019

SIYANQOBA RALLY

AMAQABANE AFIKILE#GrowSouthAfrica#ANCSiyanqoba#VoteANC pic.twitter.com/GnO248nHa5

— ANC SECRETARY GENERAL | Fikile Mbalula (@MbalulaFikile) May 5, 2019

#SiyanqobaRally The ANC’s head of election Fikile Mbalula says they expect that Ellis Park will be filled to capacity. pic.twitter.com/XZ29u3wqmk

— Jacaranda News (@JacaNews) May 5, 2019

This is gonna be very interesting. EFF wins the Twitter and social media support and popularity, but sadly it’s the ANC that’s going to win the majority vote on the 9th. We expect the EFF to increase their support though. #EFFTshelaThupaRally #VoteANC #GrowSouthAfrica #VoteEFF

— Edmund Sebetsa®️ (@EdS_888) May 5, 2019

"At this time we can't discuss stadiumology" ~Fikile Mbalula 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

— Pule Jakkals (@PuleZtro) May 5, 2019

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